Tummy Troubles?
Food allergies and other digestive disorders
are on the rise among tweens and teens.
by Dr. Steven Yannicelli
TWEENS & TEENS News May 2007
Allergies. Every adult seems to talk about them.
Yet lately, it seems more and more adolescents
are experiencing food allergies.
Ashley can’t eat shrimp. Jeremy can’t
have eggs. Kaitlyn has to get an immediate shot
of medicine if she accidentally gets anywhere
near a peanut. What’s going on?
Experts agree food allergies among tweens and
teens are on the rise, but they don’t
know why. What the experts do know is that people
can get really sick if they eat something they’re
allergic to and, in extreme cases, people can
even die.
The most common food allergens are milk, eggs,
peanuts, tree nuts (like walnuts and cashews),
fish, shellfish (like shrimp and crab), soy
and wheat.
What exactly happens when someone eats a food
he or she is allergic to? Well, that depends
on the person. Take Ashley’s shrimp allergy.
Her body thinks that shrimp is bad for her.
When she eats shrimp or any dish with shrimp
in it, her body releases chemicals to fight
the “bad” food, causing an allergic
reaction. That allergic reaction is different
for everyone. Ashley might break out in hives
and have trouble breathing. Brittany might develop
a skin rash, start vomiting or get diarrhea.
The good news is that most people can prevent
allergic reactions by simply avoiding food to
which they are allergic.
A small number of people, however, have such
severe food allergies and are allergic to so
many foods that they can only eat a few foods.
Known as “safe” foods, such foods
don’t cause allergic reactions.
If the particular safe foods don’t provide
all the necessary vitamins and minerals—
which they usually don’t— the highly
allergic person may have to drink an amino acid-based
formula. An amino acid-based formula like Neocate®
is a special formula that’s gentle on
the stomach and provides all the necessary nutrition
a person needs to grow up strong and healthy.
While diets that include amino acid-based formulas
are generally more common among infants and
small children, some tweens and teens must incorporate
this formula in their diets.
Adolescents with food allergies should talk
to their parents and doctors about carrying
an EpiPen. Similar to a shot, an EpiPen is a
device that contains a dose of medicine that
people give themselves if they come in contact
with a food to which they are allergic. In the
case of severe allergies, an EpiPen can save
a person’s life.
If you think you or one of your friends might
be having an allergic reaction, be sure to contact
a parent, teacher or other adult right away.
Warning Signs of a Food Allergy
•A red, hot, itchy skin rash
•A swollen tongue
•Hives and swelling
•Vomiting
•Stomach cramps
•Diarrhea
Food allergies aren’t the only condition
on the rise among tweens and teens. Doctors
also cite an increase in a condition known
as Eosinophilic Esophagitis, or EE for short.
EE is a disorder that inflames a person’s
stomach, esophagus (the tube from the mouth
to the stomach) and intestines (where food
is digested and absorbed). The disorder usually
spurs significant eating and digestion problems,
such as causing people to frequently throw
up after meals or have extreme difficulty
when swallowing.
EE is sometimes confused with reflux, a common
condition in adults. Reflux is when acid from
the stomach flows up into the esophagus and
throat, causing severe pain and burning.
How does someone know if he or she has reflux
versus EE? If the medicine used to treat reflux
isn’t working, doctors run a test to
look at the esophagus. If someone has EE,
the test shows severe inflammation in the
esophagus.
Medical experts think EE is caused by a food
allergy, so they usually tell people to change
their diets and remove all the foods that
make them feel sick. Just like people with
severe food allergies, some people with EE
may have to limit their diets to a few “safe”
foods and amino acid-based formulas.
It’s unclear whether people with EE
ever outgrow the condition. However, over
time many people can handle more and more
foods and rely less and less on a formula.
A doctor can advise people with EE on how
to safely and gradually introduce new foods
into their diets.
Warning Signs of EE
•Throwing up
•Trouble swallowing
•Getting food stuck in the throat
•Stomach and/or chest pain
Dealing with food allergies or EE can be especially
rough for tweens and teens, particularly when
food is associated with many fun activities,
including slumber parties, school dances and
sports.
But both conditions are very manageable. Here
are a few tips:
•Carefully read the labels on packaged
foods for any ingredients to which you might
be allergic. If you’re not sure about
the ingredients, avoid the food. Better safe
than sorry!
•If you’re eating in a restaurant
or at a friend’s house, don’t
be shy or embarrassed to ask about the ingredients
in the food. After all, it’s your health
we’re talking about. Again, don’t
take the risk if you can’t determine
exactly what is in the food.
•If your friends bring snacks to sporting
events and other activities, then plan ahead
and bring your own snack. If you rely on amino
acid-based nutrition, get creative and pour
your Neocate over shaved ice to make a snow
cone. Or, carry a pre-mixed amino acid-based
drink box, like E028 Splash, that comes in
a variety of flavors.
•Have a network of people you trust—
friends, teachers and caring adults—
who know about what you can and cannot eat.
This network can help you with your diet and
serve as a support system when you need it.
Living with a food allergy or EE isn’t
such big a deal once someone knows how to
manage the disorder. Lots of people have allergies,
and they learn to live with them. Remember
to stay positive. The right attitude goes
a long way in helping to cope.
For more information about food allergies
and EE, visit www.actagainstallergy.com/conditions.
Dr. Steven Yannicelli is the director
of science and education for Nutricia North
America.
